evans



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. C. H. EVANS. REPRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

l'll

Il l I Il al N. PETERS Pmwwmmphnr, wumngwn. r4 cA (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. H. EVANS. RBPRIGERATING APPARATUS. No. 329,880. Patented Oct. Z7, 1885.

llll'll wma (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C.A H. EVANS. REPRIGERAT-INGAPPARATUS.

No. 329,380. Patented Oct. 27, 1885 vez@ N. PETERS. Pnmuuwgmpmf. washmgm n. c.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsfSheet 4.

C. H. EVAN S.

RBFRIGBRATING APPARATUS. No. 329,380. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

Mwave@ Innen/i021 K rlwhf L17/ am may,

UNiTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES H. EVANS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,IASSIGNOR rIO DANIEL H. CRAIG, AGENT, OF SAME PLACE.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,380, dated October 27, 1885.

Application filed December 5, 1884. Serial No. 149,600.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for refrigerating purposes-such, for example, as that employed in the manufacture of ice by the articial production of low temperatures effected by the alternate expansion and condensation of ammoniacal or other equivalent gases.

In the practical use of mechanism of this class one of the most serious obstacles encountered is the very large consumption of cold water required for the absorption of heat from the pipes, and for the condensation of the steam, together with the hot ammoniacal or other gas used in apparatus of this class.

My invention has for its purpose the avoidance of this objection by substituting for the large volume of cold water heretofore required a continuous artificial current of air under compression, or air and water combined in varying proportions and at temperatures between the normal and the freezing points, as fully described hereinafter.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a frame or support for the pipes composing the condenser, absorber, or any other portion of a refrigerating apparatus, from which any one or more than one of the mechanical parts may be removed readily withgut in any manner disturbing` the other memers.

My invention will iirst be ful-ly described, and then particularly pointed out and defined in the claims annexed to this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation representing a condenser or weak-water cooler, illustrating one method of practicing my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another manner of applying my invention. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a condenser or cooler illustrating an apparatus in which air and Water may be used separately or together. Eig. 4 is a detail view of one of the standards of the su pporting-frame Shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, the pipes of the (No model.)

condenser being removed. Fig. 5 is a similar View showing a modified construction.

In the said drawings,the reference-numeral l denotes the standards of the frame in which the pipes of the condenser or cooler are supported. These standards are constructed of separable sections 2, each having a semicircular seat, 3, which registers with a corresponding opening in an adjacent section, making an aperture which receives the pipe. The separate sections are placed one upon the other in pairs until the standard is carried to the proper height, each successive pair being pinned to the sections below by bolts 4, passing through lugs 5, projecting laterally from the top and bottom of each section. The lower sections of the standard may be bolted to the floor or fastened in any suitable manner, and the upper pair are bound together by a bolt, 6, passing through lugs or caps 7.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly-modified construction, in which one vertical portion of the standard is formed in one, two, or more integral parts, 8, each containing a series of the half-seats 3, already mentioned, the adjacent half of the standard being composed of single removable sections 2, connected together in the manner already described, and each containing asemicireular seat,which registers with one of the similar openings in the opposite portion of the standard. When the latter is composed of two or more parts, these are also pinned to each other in asimilar manner. Then the condenser is mounted in this frame in the manner shown in Figs. I and 2, it is evident that any one of the parts composing the coil may, if necessary, be removed without disturbing the others by simply disconnecting the ends of the horizontal portion from the return-pipes, removing the separable sections 2, and taking the pipe out. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 4 the pipes may be removed from either side; but in that illustrated in Fig. 5 they are removable from one side only.

rIhe numeral 9 denotes the pipe conveying the weak water to the condenser, which in this class of apparatus consists of a series of pipes, 10, connected by return-pipes I0, the whole forming a continuous jacket surrounding the pipe 9.

IOO

Heretofore it has been customary togabstract the heat from the pipe conveying the weak water by driving a current of cold water through the outer pipes or jackets, which are alternately connected with each other at op.-l

1o sumed in a single day is very large the eX- pense attending its use is no inconsiderable part of the expense of operating said machines. I have substituted for the cold water a current of air, which may be more or less reduced in temperature in any suitable manner, and may be either in a dry or moist condition. TheV air may also be driven through the pipes under more or less pressure or, if desired, may be used in conjunction with a 2o proportionate volume of water. I propose,

also, to effectthe same result by using a condenser or absorber in which the weak-water pipes are not provided with jackets, and wherein the air is driven over the outer sur- 2 5 faces of said pipes, and I may combine therewith apparatus for moistening the latter to aid the process of refrigeration by rapid evaporation.

I will now describe apparatus by which my 3o invention may be carried into practical op-` eration.

In the form of condenser shown in Figs.1 and 2 air is driven from a fan,12,into a conveyer,13,

whence it is distributed by pipes 14 to each alternate coil of the outer pipes or jackets,

the remaining coils being provided with escape-pipes 15, from which the air, after accomplishing its function, is discharged. Con- V nected to each distributing-pipe 14 is a waterpipe, 16, leading from a main, 17, through which water,in the form `of spray,may be carried to moisten the air and render it capable of more rapidly absorbing heat from the pipes -9. Cocks 18 are interposed between the water 4 5 and the air-distributing pipes to regulate the volume of the discharge or, Vif desired, to cut it off entirely. The air driven by the fan 12 may be used at its normal temperature, or it may be refrigerated before entering the condenser by driving it over an 'evaporating-surface constantly moistened, or in any other suitable manner. The mechanism may, however,

be so constructed as to use air or water separately, or both together. This form of `construction is shown in Fig. 3, in which air is driven from a fan or blower, 12, through a conveyer, 19, into the jackets of the condenser, awater-pipe, 20, being tapped into the conveyer and a suitable cut-off, 21, being placed 6o in the latter and in the water-pipe. In this construction a single inlet and outlet only are employed,placed at the two extremities ofthe condensing-coil, as shown. Where the condenser is constructed without jacketed pipes,

as in Fig. 2, the conveyer from the blower 12 connects with air-branches or stand-pipes 22, each arranged at opposite ends of the condensing-coil,and provided with numerous outlets, 23, directed inward. These pipes arise from a horizontal continuation, 24, of the con- 7o veyer, arranged beneath the condenser, and having its outlets 23 `pointing upward, air being thus driven fromthree different directions over the heated pipes of the cooler. The operation may be considerably expedited by placing a drip-trough, 25, above, from which water is constantly sprinkled upon the pipes .9 of the coil, the heat being rapidly absorbed by the moisture, and the refrigeration greatly accelerated by the rapid evaporation which is 8o promoted by the thorough circulation of the air.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 air and water will ordinarily be used in conjunction; but should the blower become disarranged it may be cut off by the valve 21, and the .cooling process may then be carried on by the use of water alone.V

It will readily be understood that this process is applicable not only to the manufacture 9c of ice or refrigeration in the manner set forth, but may also be used for many other purposes s wherein a condensation of gases or steam or a reduction of temperature of a body of liquid forms an essential step in the mode of procedure.

When using atmospheric air according to my invention without the artificial moistenin g thereof, it is important that the temperature of the air should never fall down to or very 10o close to freezing, for the reason that air will carry more moisture at a high temperature, si. and thereby remove most heat.

What I claim is- 1. In the manufacture of ice and other analogous processes, the combination, with receptacles containing the substance under treatment, of means, substantially as described, for driving over or through said receptacles acurrent of air under pressure and at a tem- 11o outlets, and a sprinkling-trough arranged f' above the coil, substantially as described. I

4. A supporting-frame for the condensing, Y absorbing, and generating coil of-an ice or refrigerating machine, said lframe having standards composed of separable sections con- 13o nected together, substantially as described.

5. A standard for the support of the condensing, absorbing, and generating or still coils o f anice or refrigerating machine, comstandard composed of separable sections 2, united to an integral half-standard, 8, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 15 in presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of December, 1884.

GHAS. H. EVANS.

Witnesses:

HAL BELL, FRANK Ross LORD. 

